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Praise be to Allah! may Allah’s blessing and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions. Purity (Tahârah) is a beautiful word that is pleasing to the eye, and a quality which everyone wishes to maintain. From an Islamic perspective, purity has a general meaning. Thus it may mean, on one hand, physical cleanliness which is the purity (of the body) from perceptible filth or ritual purification. On the other hand, it may mean spiritual purity which is the purity of the self from vices, sins and abandoning disobediences, and getting used to good deeds and words. This comprehensive meaning of purity is expressed in the words of Prophet Muhammad, (PBUH) (This symbol means “may Allah send His blessing and peace upon him”), as reported by Abu Hurairah, (may Allah be pleased with him):
“What do you think if there was a river at the door of one of you in which he bathes five times a day: Does this leave any dirt on him?’ They answered, ‘Nothing is left.’ The Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘That is like the five prayers with which Allah remove sins.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Ritual purity is a prerequisite to prayer (Şalât); this comprises either ablution (wudu’) for minor impurity or ceremonial bath (ghusl) for major impurity. If a Muslim purifies himself in accordance with Allah’s commandments and the Prophet’s instructions, his prayer will purify him of sins. Islam is the religion of both outward and inward purity. Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) warned those who neglected physical purity which is considered a prerequisite for validity of certain devotions, like prayer, touching or holding the Holy Qur’an, etc. Ibn ‘Abbass reported Allah’s Messenger’s words when he passed by two graves:

“They are being punished for some- thing which seemed trivial to them: this one used not to clean himself of urine; whereas the other was used to tale bearing.” Then he requested a wet branch which he split into two half and put a half on either grave, then said, “With that, punishment will be reduced unless they (the branches) become dry.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Training his companions to love purity, he used to say the following supplication:

“O Allah! Praise be to You as much as that which fills the heavens and the earth and as much as You will. O Allah! Purify me with snow, hail and cool water. O Allah! Purify me of sins as a white dress is purified of dirt.” (Ahmad)

The teachings of Islam urge cleanliness. Jâbir narrated that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) once came to them and saw a man with shaggy hair. He said,

“Couldn’t he find something to tidy his hair up?” When he saw another man with dirty clothes, he said, “Couldn’t this man find water to clean his dress?” (Ahmad ,Nasai and Abu Daud) Continue reading →